Often unpleasant symptoms are only an alarming signal about the development of more serious problems in the body. Such phenomena include numbness of the left hand, which is observed in various diseases of the cardiovascular, nervous, musculoskeletal system and circulatory disorders.
Causes of Numbness and Tingling in the Left Hand
If the symptom in question is infrequent and associated with certain actions, it may appear due to the following factors:
- Prolonged arm exposure in an unnatural or uncomfortable position. This provokes squeezing of nerve endings and blood vessels.
- Professional activity, in the performance of which the limbs for a long time must be kept elevated above the level of the heart (hairdressers, make-up artists, repair workers).
- Physical exercises and daily activities associated with lifting weights.
- Wearing tight and uncomfortable clothes.
- Long-term work at the computer, which causes constant tension in the hands and carpal tunnel syndrome.
In these cases, there is a slight numbness of the left hand, disappearing after a break in work, limb workouts and rest.
Also the described problem can be caused by such, more dangerous, reasons:
- Myocardial infarction. The symptom appears at rest, is not eliminated by taking nitroglycerin preparations. With a heart attack, there is severe pain and numbness in the left hand, which does not go away within 1-3 hours.
- Stroke and transient ischemic attacks. It arises because of a sustained circulatory disturbance in the brain. If the victim complains of a decrease in the sensitivity of the left arm, the right hemisphere was affected. In addition to this symptom, a stroke is accompanied by a worsening of the functioning of the left leg, a decrease in visual acuity, and problems with the speech device.
- Ischemic disease. It is quite easy to diagnose angina pectoris - numbness extends to the forearm and shoulder, occurs, as a rule, under physical exertion and quickly disappears after resting or taking nitroglycerin .
- Atherosclerosis of blood vessels. The feeling of numbness in the left arm is strengthened during the performance of any, even everyday work, often takes place in conjunction with the pain syndrome;
- Inflammation of the nerve plexus of the shoulder. In addition to the clinical phenomenon under consideration, the motor activity of the limb is greatly impaired, puffiness and intense pain are noted.
- Osteochondrosis of cervical, as well as thoracic spine. Basically, the numbness of the left arm arises at night, starting from the fingertips and extending to the forearm. Also, a decrease in the compression force of the hand, weakness in the limb, is added.
It should be noted that any other diseases that provoke nerve compression, circulatory disorders and inflammatory processes, can cause the described symptom.
Treatment of numbness of the left hand
Adequate therapy is prescribed only after careful research and precise diagnosis. When identifying a disease that has become a cause of numbness, the following drugs are used:
- means for normalization of blood circulation and blood pressure level;
- antithrombotic medicines, nootropics, drugs to reduce the viscosity and density of blood;
- mineral and vitamin complexes with a predominance of calcium in the composition;
- analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs, both local and systemic use.
Physiotherapy ( UHF , shock-wave, magnetic effect, salt baths), massage and therapeutic gymnastics are also very effective.